469 Zoe’s breath hitched. Her heart pounded wildly as her wide eyes locked onto the man entering the room. She stumbled back, gripping the edge of the table for support. “Darwin?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. At her trembling question, the man paused, his lips curling into a bemused s
470 “I told you, I don’t know!” Zoe cried, tears brimming in her eyes. She turned to Julius, her voice trembling with desperation. “Please, you have to believe me! I would never betray Darwin—I’d never hurt him!” Julius tilted his head, studying her with an unreadable expression. “Interesting,” h
471 Lady Margaret's heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she led Zoe out of the building. The tension between them was palpable, the silence thick enough to suffocate. Zoe’s hands trembled as she tried to keep up with the older woman’s brisk pace. At the front entrance, Lady Margaret
472 Lady Margaret’s heels clicked sharply as she ascended the grand staircase of the estate, her movements poised and deliberate. Zoe trailed behind her, trembling like a leaf in a storm. Her mind raced with possibilities, none of them comforting. What would Margaret do to her? Was she even safe he
473 Margaret hesitated, her icy facade cracking ever so slightly. Her gaze turned to Zoe, who was now a trembling, sobbing mess on the floor. The younger woman’s fear was palpable, and for a brief moment, Margaret’s cold demeanor softened, though she masked it quickly. “That’s enough,” Margaret s
474 ### At the Wettin Estate Lady Margaret reclined in her study, a glass of red wine in hand. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow on the luxurious furnishings. Stacks of dossiers lay on the polished oak desk before her, but her attention was fixed on a particular one marked *Oak
475 The man stepped forward, his broad shadow engulfing Zoe. His hand gripped the back of her chair, tilting it just enough to force her to meet Margaret’s unyielding gaze. “I swear!” Zoe cried, her voice cracking under the pressure. “I don’t know anything about their plans!” Margaret took a de
476 Margaret reentered her study, the warm glow of the fire doing little to soften the storm brewing in her mind. The dossier on the Oakbars still lay open on her desk, its damning contents staring back at her. She picked it up, flipping through the pages again, her lips pursed. A knock interrupt